The $300-Plus Day Lift Ticket is a Reality and at a Most Surprising Resort

The $300 day lift ticket debuted this winter and at a location that may surprise many. It’s not a Vail property. Nor is it in one of the other conglomerate portfolios.

However, it is in a prime location near a major metropolitan area of Phoenix with its $5 million people who really have nowhere else close to go for skiing and snowboarding. Can you say Arizona Snowbowl? Granted, that price is reserved for peak ski says. On some days, the price is a mere $29. Check the resort’s web site for much less expensive days that are available. Sadly, many people, especially beginners, hear that high number and freak out.

The Snow Storm Journal recently posted an excellent expose on Arizona Snowbowl’s rational including the why’s and how’s.

The resort with the second most expensive peak day ticket may surprise you as well. Again, it is not Vail or Beaver Creek.

Aside from Arizona Snowbowl, the “top ten” most expensive peak day tickets are: #10 Big Sky, MT at $239; #9 Winter Park, CO at $249; #8 Breckenridge, CO at $255; #7 Park City, UT at $259; #6 Deer Valley , UT at $259; #5 Palisades Tahoe, CA at $269; #4 Steamboat, CO at $269; #2 (tie) Vail/Beaver Creek at $275; #1 Homewood, CA.

;The Peak Rankings web site breaks down the full range on lift ticket prices at each of these resorts.

Of course, none of this matters to those who purchased season passes from the conglomerates or specific resorts. But, pity the poor beginner who isn’t going to plunk down kindreds of dollars the previous April or who may only be able to participate on busier days.

For years, the ski industry has been struggling to appeal to newcomers and it has squandered a number of effective beginner-oriented programs that were getting results.

Unfortunately, what get the most publicity is the high cost of a single day ticket during busy periods. That’s a tough mountain to climb and perhaps not one that the industry can ever overcome.